Pokemon Go, a popular mobile phone game, took Taiwan by storm in 2016, and its popularity has stuck. New Taipei is taking advantage of this enduring popularity to promote local tourist hotspots.
Large crowds converged on the New Taipei Metropolitan Park on Thursday. Among their number were local residents, but others had come from as far away as Japan just to be there. All eyes were glued to smartphones- the purpose of the grand gathering was to play Pokemon Go.
The game uses an augmented reality feature, allowing players to hunt for virtual Pokemon at real world locations. The game was a huge hit when it was introduced to Taiwan in 2016, bringing large crowds to locations where rare Pokemon were rumored to appear, and even causing traffic jams on several occasions.
The New Taipei Tourism and Travel Department has decided to take advantage of the game’s enduring popularity in Taiwan to promote local tourism. The department has worked with the game’s management team in Taiwan to put Pokemon in 60 locations around the city’s Metropolitan Park. The partnership has proven a success, attracting crowds since early Thursday morning.